Northwest Lower Peninsula

Come along on a journey through Northern Michigan’s history in our captivating 5-part series, where we delve into the eerie tales of the most haunted locations in the region. Our inaugural installment focuses on the Northwest Lower Peninsula, where an array of ghostly encounters await, from haunted restaurants and theaters to chilling asylums. In northwest Michigan, the spirits of the past are far from scarce. Cadillac Former Escape Bar and Grill: Originally the Northwood Hotel in the 1800s and is rumored to be haunted. There have been reports of a woman in an old-fashioned dress in the ballroom and a… Read More »

Seems many great family stories start with an eccentric, creative and fun relative. Legs Inn’s story is no different. Current owner George Smolak’s Uncle Stanley came to Northern Michigan in the 1920’s looking for a place that would remind him of his homeland, Kamionka, Poland. He wanted a place that would let him explore his many talents. Uncle Stanley loved to make sculptures out of the trees in the region. Stanley Smolak (1887-1968) was a polish immigrant that settled in Cross Village in 1921. Before heading north, he worked in the auto factories in both Detroit and Chicago. It was… Read More »

Grand Traverse Bay is composed of two main arms: the West Arm and the East Arm. The West Arm stretches about 20 miles from its entrance at the Manitou Islands to its junction with the East Arm. The East Arm is slightly shorter, extending around 15 miles from its entrance near Elk Rapids to its confluence with the West Arm. The bay has a rich history that dates back thousands of years and encompasses various periods, including Native American settlements, European exploration and colonization. The Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) and Odawa (Ottawa) tribes were among the first known inhabitants of the area,… Read More »

Power Island in West Grand Traverse Bay in Northern Michigan. The island is owned by Grand Traverse County and offers many recreational activities. There is a boat dock, picnic area, trail system, sandy beaches, and rustic camping. Basset Island is connected to Power Island via an isthmus. The islands are a popular destination for boaters, kayakers, and nature enthusiasts. There are opportunities for wildlife viewing, fishing, and exploring the natural beauty of the area. The trails lead visitors through wooded areas and along the shoreline, providing scenic views of the surrounding waters. Trail Map The 200-acre Power Island has over… Read More »

Excelsior Township, a township in Kalkaska County was established in 1875, but the first settlement in the town was made in 1874. As of the 2020 census the population was 991. Kalkaska County, formerly named Wabassee, was an unorganized county in 1840. It was separated from Michilimackinac County and in 1843 it was renamed Kalkaska County. At that time, it was attached to Grand Traverse County and then Antrim County before it was organized on January 27, 1871. In 1874 Nathaniel Woodfield built a home in what is now Excelsior Township. Followed by James Elliot, W.W. Crippen, D.E. Wherry, and… Read More »

Caberfae was the first destination ski resort in Michigan and one of the first in the country. It is the 4th oldest ski resort in the United States, celebrating 86 years in 2023. Caberfae’s Scottish Roots Caberfae is the Scottish name for Stag’s Head. Colin Fitzgerald, founder of the MacKenzie Family saved King Alexander III of Scotland’s life from a hunted stag deer. Colin was granted the name in 1255 by the King. The land was named Caberfae by Kenneth MacKenzie of Chicago in 1919 because of his ancestral roots and the abundance of deer herds in the area. From… Read More »

We recently visited Seven Bridges Nature Area which is managed by the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy. I had heard of Seven Bridges but had never visited and I was excited to walk the trail and see all the bridges. As we started out on the trail, we could see the first bridge and as we approached it you could see what we assume to be the support structure for the original bridge. Two walls made of stones are along the riverbank and look to be helping support the new bridge. We walked down to the river and could see… Read More »

Rugg Pond is a reservoir in Rapid River Township in Kalkaska County. It has a long and interesting history including reports that Ernest Hemingway once spent a night fishing from the Rugg Pond dam powerhouse. He supposedly wrote The Battle while fishing. It was formed by a dam that was originally intended to generate power for surrounding communities. The dam and power plant were built where the two branches of the Rapid River meet northwest of Kalkaska. Kalkaska Light and Power Company Ambrose E. Palmer founded the Kalkaska Light and Power Company 1904. The company was turned over to Kalkaska… Read More »

Join Northern Michigan History in our 5 part series as we explore the most haunted places in northern Michigan. The first in our series looks at the Northwest Lower Peninsula. From restaurants, to theatres to asylums, there is not a shortage of ghosts in northwest Michigan. Petoskey Terrace Inn – In Petoskey’s historic Bay View area the 38 room Victorian resort has been the site of two death since it opened in 1911. There are a couple of rumors about who died. Some say it was two workers that had a beam fall on them during the construction. The other… Read More »

On October 8, 1871, there were a series of simultaneous forest fires in the Great Lakes region, collectively knows as the Great Fire of 1871. These fires burned the several cities, towns, and villages in Michigan. Holland, Manistee, and Port Huron suffered considerable damage. The Peshtigo Fire in Wisconsin was the deadliest forest fire in recorded history, also destroying several towns in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The fire crossed the Menominee River and burned in Menominee County. Later that night the Great Chicago Fire erupted and burned for 2 days. It destroyed roughly 4 square miles killing approximately 300 people. 1871… Read More »

The Inland Waterway stretches across Cheboygan and Emmet Counties has been a popular recreation area for years. Fishing, paddling watercrafts and motorboats all travel the waterways. The route is a series of 3 rivers and 3 lakes. You can start at north end, the mouth of the Cheboygan River at Lake Huron and follow that to Mullet Lake. During your trip on the Cheboygan River you will encounter the Cheboygan River lock which will raise or lower your boat 15 feet. Mullet Lake will lead you through the Indian River and into Burt Lake. From there you will head down… Read More »

Traverse City Regional Psychiatric Hospital Established in 1881, Northern Michigan Asylum (Traverse City State Hospital) became the third psychiatric hospital in Michigan. Kalamazoo state Hospital (1859) and Pontiac State Hospital (1873) were becoming overcrowded and a third facility was needed. Perry Hannah, a lumber baron from Traverse City used his political influence to secure Traverse City as the location for the new hospital. Building 50 was the first building built and constructed according to the Kirkbride Plan in Victorian-Italianate style. Dr. Thomas Kirkbride, a physician and early adapter of psychological care believed that a beautiful setting would be a vital… Read More »